More energy saving suggestions

Following up on last week's post about solarizing your home, here are a couple more resources about energy conservation, both put out by the Arkansas Energy Office.

• Home Energy Projects: An Energy Conservation Guide for Do-It-Yourselfers (Ark Doc YA.E 14/67-8:H 65/2008): This booklet provides information and suggestions about energy saving projects that homeowners can tackle on their own, from insulating an attic, to weatherstripping doors and windows, to installing an insulating jacket on the waterheater. Easy to read and follow directions accompany every project.
• Smarter Architecture: Energy-efficient communities, building designs, construction techniques and materials in Arkansas (Ark Doc YA.E 14/67-8: S 62/2003): Highlighting projects around the state, including the Clinton Presidential Library and the headquarters of Heifer International that have been designed to save energy.This book doesn't give advice or tips to homeowners, but it is an interesting look at the various ways Arkansasan businesses and towns are working to conserve energy.
  

Put That Sun to Work

It is officially summer now, and the sun is out in force here in Arkansas. At times, the sun and heat can seem awfully oppressive, but one way to feel better about them is to put them to use! Here are three books that can help you do that:

• The Homeowner's Guide to Energy Independence: Alternative power sources for the average American by Christine Woodside (TJ 163.5 .D86 W674 2005) is an introduction to the many ways consumers can cut their reliance on fossil fuels and save money at the same time. Many of the suggestions are inexpensive to implement (use a clothesline to dry laundry, instead of the dryer), although Woodside does discuss pricier options like solar panels and how to build your own backyard stream power plant.
• Solar Power Your Home for Dummies by Rik DeGunther (TH 7414 .D45 2008) covers all the aspects of solar power in an easy to understand format. Along with discussions of a variety of possible projects, which ones can be done by a do-it-yourselfer, and when to hire an expert, there is a section on financing the projects.
• For a more in-depth look at solar power and sustainable living, check out Solar Living Source Book by John Schaeffer (TJ 810 .G35 2008). Covering far more than either of the previous books, this comprehensive volume "will be your most important tool in turning your dream of energy independence into a delightful daily reality." While you may not be interested in going that far, the ideas Schaeffer provides can help reduce your footprint, and lighten the load on your pocketbook.
  

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

If you are a hunter, fisherman (or fisherwoman), boater, or just an interested wildlife observer, you need to check out the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission web site.

This is your one-stop shop for hunting licenses, permits, and regulations. You can apply for permits and licenses on-line (2009 Deer season permit applications are due July 1st). Did you know that feral hogs are a nuisance animal, and can be hunted during open hunting season? The hunting page has information about them, and more.

The web site also has information for people interested in conservation and wildlife. See a bird you can't identify? Want to know what kinds of mammals are common in Arkansas? Want to know where to fish for Smallmouth bass? This web site will help you.

It also provides information about upcoming events and public meetings relating to hunting, fishing, boating and conservation.

Help Navigating the U.S. Immigration Maze

Last week I highlighted the nifty new set of flashcards for the U.S. citizenship test that we have here at the Arkansas State Library. This week I will add a few more resources to help with the legal immigration process. All three books are written by Ilona Bray, J.D., an attorney with many years of experience in immigration law, and are designed to help cut through the tangle of bureaucracy and the confusion that comes with it. They are published by Nolo Press, an excellent source of legal information for the layperson.

• U.S. Immigration Made Easy (KF 4819.6 .B74 2009): A comprehensive guide to U.S. immigration law that covers the myriad questions and situations that arise in the legal immigration process, including eligibility, the many types of visas available, and when you need a lawyer.

• Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & Interview (KF 4710 .Z9 B73 2008): Once you have become a legal resident there are still many hurdles to becoming a citizen. This book covers the entire naturalization and citizenship process, providing advice and information, starting with eligibility. Bray discusses the myriad situations that may pose difficulties for applicants and recommends remedies where available.

• Fiance & Marriage Visas (KF 4819.85 .B73 2008): A more specific guide than either of the previous books, directed as the specific complications that arise when immigration and citizenship are due to marriage.
  

Flash Me!

Studying for tests can be a drag, even when it is for something as important as U.S. citizenship. Here at the Arkansas State Library, we have a couple of new tools to help beat some of that tedium: Flash Cards!

The naturalization test is one segment of the pathway to U.S. citizenship. For more information about the other steps, check out this brochure and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web page (see link at the end of this post).

The civics portion of the naturalization test is an oral exam of 10 questions, taken from a set of 100 questions. To pass the test, the test taker must answer 6 of the 10 questions correctly. The questions are available at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web page and in the new deck of Civics Flash Cards. Each card has one of the questions on one side, and the answer, along with a related picture, on the reverse. These cards can be used for individual study, or in a classroom for group exercises.

For the English language section of the naturalization test, the applicants must demonstrate an ability to read and write English by reading at least one out of three sentences correctly, and at least one of three sentences correctly. The flash cards for these segments of the test have all the vocabulary words that the student will be expected to know. Each card gives a word, then provides a place for the student to practice writing the word and to use it in a sentence. The words are not defined on the cards, so students will probably need a dictionary to make sure they understand the meanings of the words (we have dictionaries available at ASL too!).

For more information about the new naturalization tests and other immigration-related questions, head to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web page.